The Foremost of This Era, Invincible Under Heaven

"Already sent it off..." the Deputy Head said, shocked. "You sold the same piece of intel to two different parties??"

"Sold? What are you talking about! Did I take your money?" The other party's words were unpleasant, so Wang Wen feigned anger, turned around, and started to walk away.

"No, no, no, I misspoke." The Deputy Head put on a fawning expression, hurried over to catch Wang Wen, and said, "But that move of yours is so risky! What if the person who went up last time was me? Wouldn't I be the one out of luck?"

Wang Wen said dismissively, "Just say it's a probability mechanism, fifty-fifty. If you go enough times, you'll definitely get it. Besides, I provided the intel, so I can spin it however I want."

A bead of sweat rolled down the Deputy Head's forehead. "Nobody would believe that given your situation at the time."

"They'll believe it if I put my head on the line," Wang Wen laughed.

First Consortium Intelligence Department.

"Department Head, he has returned to the academy." Tong Xiaolei did not use a flashy optical computer, but instead reported to the old man using a plain, unadorned tablet. "He left the Guard Department around 19:57 last night."

The old man nodded casually to show he understood and continued to bury his head in reviewing documents.

Tong Xiaolei hesitated for a moment, then asked with some confusion, "Actually, this was just a small matter. If we had stepped in, Team Leader Luo could have just said a word to the Guard Department and had him released. There was no need to keep him locked up for eleven days. Isn't it a pity to miss out on such a cheap favor?"

Such a question bordered on overstepping; no one but a true confidant would dare ask it.

The old man put down his pen and looked up. "Is he a member of the First Consortium?"

Tong Xiaolei lowered her head, thought for a moment, and said, "I understand."

"The consortium is not yet firmly established, and there are too many rivals around ready to replace us at any moment. The right path is to focus on our own development during this period of advantage and avoid unnecessary complications. Besides, as you said, this was truly a small matter. The favors of our First Consortium aren't that cheap, and he might not even care for them." The old man picked up his teacup and blew away the floating tea leaves. "Go out, and send Mo Ran over here while you're at it."

Mo Ran was the current leader of the Upper Group.

He stood silently after entering the room.

The old man knew his temperament well, so he didn't waste time and asked straight to the point, "How many teams did you send in this week?"

"After the regular team failed to find the item, I sent two more groups of experts from the three-hundredth floor into the World Tower, but they returned empty-handed." Mo Ran's voice was devoid of inflection. "The loyalty checks were fine, and their assets were also clean."

The old man nodded and smiled mysteriously. "It seems our little friend isn't very honest. Not only did he withhold key information, but he also sold the same intel to two different parties."

"Cough, cough. Only people who talk behind others' backs are dishonest," Wang Wen's voice rang out from outside the door.

A look of shock appeared on Mo Ran's calm, unruffled face.

With his status as the Upper Group leader and his strength at the four-hundred-twenty-ninth floor, he hadn't noticed an outsider getting close at all.

If the other party had intended to launch a sneak attack, they would have already succeeded!

He furrowed his brows, turned around bit by bit to look at the newcomer, his fingers resting on the small mechanism at his waist.

Wang Wen strolled into the room and gave Mo Ran a shy smile. "Don't mind me, I'm just physically weak and have no strength in my feet."

Hearing this, Mo Ran was shocked again.

He knew I didn't notice him!

He did it on purpose!

The old man, however, was not surprised to see Wang Wen and even laughed heartily. "Is it already another week so soon?"

Wang Wen sat down in the chair in front of the desk, annoyed. "Don't pretend you don't know! I've been inside for almost two weeks! This time counts as making up for last week!"

The old man sipped his tea indifferently. "You can come and go as you please in the Intelligence Department now, so what's the point of making it up?"

Wang Wen said, "Basic rules still need to be followed."

"You're talking to me about rules?" The old man put down his teacup, his expression unreadable. "Then I have to ask you: the intel on the 200th floor, withholding information, selling it to two different parties—is this the rule you follow?"

Wang Wen stared into the old man's eyes and asked instead of answering, "May I ask if you are currently the Department Head of the First Consortium's Intelligence Department, or are you just someone I'm chatting with?"

Mo Ran, guarding the door, twitched his fingers; waves of killing intent rose and fell on his face.

He desperately wanted to teach this arrogant, foul-mouthed guy a lesson.

Yet, deep down, he felt inexplicably insecure.

The other party's elusive nature had left a lingering shadow in his mind.

The old man glanced at the door, smiled, and asked Wang Wen, "Is there a difference between those two identities?"

"Of course." Wang Wen nodded, held up two fingers, and said leisurely, "If you are the Department Head of the Intelligence Department, please remember clearly that this intel was not sold to you. I said from the beginning that it was just to secure the deposit. A batch of [Earth-Shaking Talisman]s, no matter how many, I think would be enough to cover 100,000 points."

The old man asked curiously, "And if I am someone you are chatting with?"

"Then I will answer." Wang Wen tucked away his middle finger. "The real value of that intel is the pill in the hidden compartment. Things like [Earth-Shaking Talisman]s are nothing more than mass-produced goods to the major consortiums, but that pill is a unique, one-of-a-kind treasure rarely seen within the first two hundred floors!"

A unique, one-of-a-kind treasure!

It is well known that there are three types of items in the World Tower.

Everyone likes common items, and everyone has a chance to obtain them; they are very useful as tools to assist in climbing the tower.

Rare items are not so common. Take the [Earth-Shaking Talisman] for example—not to mention whether one can even find them, just the fact that they are on a major floor like the 200th, a multiple of a hundred, is enough to deter most ordinary people.

But a unique, one-of-a-kind treasure.

It's not a question of whether you can find it or not.

It is not a question of fear.

It is a matter of who can ultimately snatch it away!

A unique-type supreme treasure is a priceless artifact the moment it appears, for there is only one of its kind in existence.

The sudden mention of these words caused a sharp glint to flicker in the old man's eyes, and he leaned forward inadvertently: "I am very curious, why do you know so many secrets that no one else knows? The First Consortium has gone to great lengths to confirm that, aside from you, not a single other person in the world knows the intelligence you have provided so far! Are you stronger than a billion tower climbers combined? Are you the number one in the world?"

Wang Wen's gaze flickered and danced, his voice low: "Why not say that everyone else who knew is no longer around?"

The office fell into silence.

Each person harbored their own thoughts.

Wang Wen was stirred by memories, mourning people and events that no one else could know or be told about.

The old man had been decisive in killing for most of his life, yet this time he appeared somewhat hesitant; he looked calm on the surface, but the way he kept drinking from a cup with little water left betrayed his inner turmoil.

The Upper Group leader stood guard quietly at the door, focused on battling his inner demons.

Everyone was very busy.

Everyone was very idle.

The afternoon passed quickly.

As Wang Wen was leaving, he instructed the old man: "Remember to take the pills, don't skimp on them. When you run out, I'll find more."

The old man narrowed his eyes, masking the surging light within them.

Not until he watched Wang Wen walk out of the building from the floor-to-ceiling window and slowly merge into the swarm of ants did Mo Ran knit his brows and plead with the old man: "Department Head, I may not be his match alone. Please allow me to request an elite team from the consortium."

The words fell.

The office became quiet once more.

The old man remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he waved his hand and shook his head: "Don't bother those big shots. We will handle this matter ourselves."

Mo Ran: "But..."

The old man looked at him: "If even you lack the confidence to defeat him, then his secrets must be larger than the heavens. A person that terrifying could take my life with ease, so there is no need for defenses."

His masseter muscles bulged; the old man's words struck Mo Ran's heart with solid force.

He gripped the small mechanism at his waist, gritted his teeth, and spoke firmly: "Next time, I will make my move to decide the victor."

After speaking, he turned and walked out.

He left the old man sitting alone at his desk, rubbing his temples in distress.

"How can you be so certain that I won't kill you?"

"How dare you so openly help me find medicine to prolong my life?"

"Why can't you hide your arrogance and contempt for everything just a little bit?"

"Do you really think you are invincible?"

"Wang Wen, you are going to be the death of me!"